PTSD

 I would like to talk a little about PTSD also known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD can come from sever trauma or a life-threatening event. Whenever you hear PTSD most people think of our soldiers serving overseas. War brings many traumatic and life-threatening events that can cause a person to have PTSD which is the case with many soldiers returning home. People who have PTSD will feel very stressed and on edge. They might have nightmares about the events that they faced while on duty. Sometimes certain noises will make them jump. These are all symptoms of PTSD. Many deal with PTSD on their own but there are many who need help dealing with it. Sometimes the symptoms do start until the person has been back for a while. Below are some videos to better help explain PTSD.
                                            (Contains graphic images)

Operation We Care

Last week I finished working on a story for my Specialized reporting class about the Hogs and Heroes Foundation. While I was working on that project I heard about Operation We Care which the Hogs and Heroes Foundation participate in. Operation We Care is an organization of Delmarva that gathers donations to put together care packages to send out to our troops overseas. They have drop off locations all over Salisbury MD and parts of Delaware. You can donated any type of goods (mostly food) and also donate money which Operation We Care uses for shipping costs. The Treasurer of the Hogs and Heroes Foundation DE Chapter 1 told me that this year they are sending out over 700 care packages to the troops. The shipping for each care package cost $12.95 to ship so the shipping alone for that many packages will cost around $10,000. Locals can donate goods at any of the drop off locations or you can donate money through their website (http://www.operationwecare.org/index.html). Also if you know a soldier overseas you can give their mailing info through the websites contact form to have them sent a package. If your a local and want to donate items the list below shows the top ten items needed. Operation We Care also allows kids to decorate the boxes. Im sure the troops get a lot of joy out of these care packages.
 Videos:
 http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=operation+we+care&oq=operation+we+care&gs_l=youtube.3...1099.3959.0.4368.17.13.0.4.4.0.94.783.13.13.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.B1KfvE55YYM

More information:
http://www.operationwecare.org/index.html

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=A7&Dato=20120521&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=205210806&Ref=PH&nclick_check=1

http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=13500431

List of Items to donate:

1. Chef Boyardee canned poptop pasta
2. Granola bars
3. Hot chocolate
4. Instant oatmeal
5. Microwave popcorn
6. Pop Tarts
7. Instant tea bags
8. Deodorant
9. Shampoo/Body wash
10. Dental floss                                                                                                                               

Hogs and Heroes Foundation

The other day I was filming the troops coming home at the Salisbury National Guard Armory and I met a few members of the Hogs and Heroes Foundation. At first sight I thought that they were a regular biker club. But after talking to them I learned that they were a special kind of biker gang. The Hogs and Heroes foundation was formed in October 2010 in Laurel, MD to support public safety, U.S. Military and Wounded Warriors. So they support many different groups (Police Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Workers, Members of the Military killed in combat Operations and the U.S. Military Veterans). They perform Honors missions for those personnel as well as host fundraisers. Hogs and Heroes participate in fun rides and help out other charitable organizations. I spoke with Michael "Sandman" Sandoe the Road Captain and Event Coordinator who told me what they are about and I have to say they are admirable. They can seem intimidating at first because they look like a biker gang but when you meet them, they give you a warm welcome. This is a great group of bikers and I suggest to all who support public safety, U.S. Military, Veterans, Police, Firefighters and Emergency Medical Workers to check these guys out. (http://www.hogsheroesfoundation.com/default.html) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mHh2EpfIE 

Check them out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hogs-Heroes-Foundation/403219571059

The subject I want to talk about today would be military personnel transitioning from military life to civilian life. Reading around, I have found that transitioning from military life to civilian life can be hard even if they served for one term and no two individuals experience the same thing. Many soldiers leaving the military have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. In order for a good transition to civilian life we need to help our service member map out their personal and professional goals. We have always had a large military who fight for our country so we should do what we can to help military personnel with their transition into civilian life. The link below is a video about a soldier and his experience transitioning back into civilian life and the hardships he had. Check it out and let me know how you feel in the comments.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45yT_mnHFpM